Vehicle routing problem in waste collection: a case study in Son Tra, Da Nang

This study investigates the application of network analysis to optimize solid waste collection routes in Son Tra District, Da Nang City. Twelve collection routes, encompassing 30 collection points, were tracked using GPS equipment and digitized in QGIS. Key parameters such as length, velocity, and time were analyzed. By employing the Dijkstra algorithm, route optimization resulted in a significant reduction in average route length, from 12.94 ± 3.5 km to 9.42 ± 2.67 km, representing a 9-42% improvement. A paired sample t-test confirmed the statistical significance of this reduction (p<0.001). These findings demonstrate the potential of network analysis to optimize waste collection routes and reduce operational costs. However, the model's limitations, such as its focus on static, point-based collection routes and the exclusion of dynamic factors like traffic conditions and residential habits, should be considered for future research.